Chief vs. Cheif

Chief

Table of contents

Cheif

Table of contents

Chief

1. Etymology

From Middle English, borrowed from Old Frenchchief(“leader”), from Vulgar Latin*capum (from which also captain, chieftain), from Latincaput(“head”) (English cap(“head covering”)), from Proto-Indo-European*kauput- (English head).

2. Pronunciation

IPA(key): /tʃiːf/

Rhymes: -iːf

3. Noun

chief (pluralchiefs)

A leader or head of a group of people, organisation, etc. [from 13th c.]

1994, Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom, Abacus 2010, p. 4:

My father, Gadla Henry Mphakanyiswa, was a chief by both blood and custom.

All firefighters report to the fire chief.

(heraldry) The top part of a shield or escutcheon. [from 15th c.]

1889, Charles Norton Elvin, A Dictionary of Heraldry:

When the Chief is Charged with any figure, in blazon it is said to be "On a Chief".